A look at the WRs in the NFL draft

Dave Martin/ASSOCIATED PRESSOklahoma State wide receiver Justin Blackmon, shown here running a drill at the recent NFL Combine, is expected to be one of the first 5-10 players taken in next month's NFL Draft.

Beginning today and every Sunday between now and the NFL Draft this space will look at a different position in the draft and give some insight from the top scouts who make the picks. Today: wide receivers.

Wide receiver may be the most misunderstood position in football, which might explain why the players who play it are often misunderstood.

Consider that most every year a wide receiver is among the top players selected, yet others such as a Victor Cruz can go undrafted and make a bigger impact than those early first rounders.

“You know my feelings,” one top college talent evaluator said. “I won’t pick a wide receiver in the first round unless one I can’t resist drops into my lap. And he better be special, and I better not be picking too high.”

There will be anywhere from three to five receivers taken in the first round of this year’s draft and one could go among the top five picks.

Here’s a look at the top receivers in the draft, with some comments from the league’s top scouts.

Justin Blackmon, Oklahoma State (6-0, 207): He caught 111 passes in 2010 and 121 in 2011, so there’s plenty of production. While he could go in the top five, and almost certainly in the top 10, he has his detractors.

“He’s good, but he’s overrated,” one scout said. “He’s not as talented as Dez Bryant (former teammate, now with Dallas). I’m not sure he’s the best of this bunch. He’s not explosive and he’s not that big. I like him, but I don’t love him.”

Blackmon, depending on what happens with the No. 2 pick, could land in St. Louis, Washington or Tampa Bay — all teams with high selections.

“He’s a tough kid,” one scout said. “But I have to question both his size and his speed.”

Michael Floyd, Notre Dame (6-3, 220): The four-year starter for the Irish caught 271 passes for 3,686 and 37 touchdowns. He has gotten in trouble more than once for alcohol-related incidents.

“He’s big, strong and he catches the ball,” another scout said. “He’s a real pro. I think in the long run he’s better than Blackmon.”

Juron Criner, Arizona (6-3, 224): Criner caught 75 passes for 956 yards and 11 touchdowns for Arizona last fall. You won’t see him listed among the top receivers in a lot of the draft books, but the scouts I trust the most, love him.
“He might be my favorite in the mix,” the scout said. “He really knows how to play the game.”

Criner, who has good size and a 38-inch vertical leap, is excellent at jump balls and fade routes and should be an excellent red-zone target.

Rueben Randle, LSU (6-3, 210): Didn’t have a great quarterback with him last year at LSU and finished his career with 97 catches for 1,634 yards and 13 touchdowns.

“He’s big and he has good speed,” one scout said. “He’s going to get better.”

“Huge upside,” another scout said. “You have to love his speed.”

Mohamed Sanu, Rutgers (6-2, 211): A three-year starter for the Knights, who caught 210 passes for 2,263 yards and 12 touchdowns. He dropped weight before the combine, which opened some eyes.

“He’s a good run after the catch guy,” one scout said. “I think he’s fast enough.”
Another scout wasn’t so sure.

“He’s big and strong, but he can’t run at all,” he said. “He’ll probably go bottom of the second round.”